Florida Drinking Water Operator "B" Practice Test

What classification is given to the finished water leaving the ion exchange unit?

1. Hard

2. Corrosive

3. Neutral

4. Soft

The correct answer is: Corrosive

In the context of an ion exchange unit, the classification given to the finished water typically reflects the process involved in the treatment. An ion exchange unit is designed to remove hardness from water, predominantly by exchanging divalent and trivalent cations such as calcium and magnesium with monovalent cations such as sodium. This process effectively softens the water, which means the water is classified as "soft" because it contains reduced levels of hardness ions. Thus, the correct classification in this context would actually be "soft," reflecting the successful reduction of hardness through the ion exchange process. While corrosive water can arise from various factors, including the presence of certain ions in the water and how treated water interacts with pipes and fixtures, the direct outcome of using an ion exchange unit is the softening of water rather than making it corrosive. Ultimately, understanding the primary objective of the ion exchange process—removing hardness from the water—is crucial in determining the correct classification of the finished water as it leaves the ion exchange unit, which should be soft as a direct result of the treatment it has undergone.